Eurozone unemployment lowest since 2008 and European Union unemployment lowest since 2000

The Eurozone or Euro area (EA) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 7.7% in March 2019, down from 7.8% in February 2019 and from 8.5% in March 2018. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since September 2008.

The European Union (EU) unemployment rate was 6.4% in March 2019, down from 6.5% in February 2019 and from 7.0% in March 2018. This is the lowest rate recorded in the European Union since January 2000.

Unemployment lowest in Czechia and highest in Greece

Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in March 2019 were recorded in Czechia (1.9%), Germany (3.2%) and the Netherlands (3.3%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (18.5% in January 2019), Spain (14.0%) and Italy (10.2%).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in all Member States except Denmark (between February 2018 and February 2019) and Sweden where it remained stable. The largest decreases were registered in Greece (from 20.6% to 18.5% between January 2018 and January 2019), Estonia (from 6.7% to 4.6% between February 2018 and February 2019) and Cyprus (from 9.0% to 7.0%).

Youth Unemployment remains high

In March 2019, the youth unemployment rate was 14.5% in the EU and 16.0% in the Eurozone, compared with 15.5% and 17.4% respectively in March 2018. In March 2019, the lowest rates were observed in Germany (5.6%), Czechia (6.3%) and the Netherlands (6.4%), while the highest were recorded in Greece (39.7% in January 2019), Spain (33.7%) and Italy (30.2%).